If you have curly hair, then you most likely hated it at some point while growing up. Unfortunately, almost every woman who grew up with curly hair went through the religious hair straightening and constant heat exposure phase. Besides wanting to fit in, many of us despise our curly hair for being too hard to deal with. However, none of us realized that this is because no one taught us how to care for it and maintain it. Instead of how unique and full of character of life curly hair looks, we were fixated on the challenges that it created. Sadly, many beautiful curly-headed women came to realize this after years of persistent straightening treatments and procedures that left their hair highly damaged. You want to give your hair the love it deserves, read this article to find out the proper way to care for and style curly hair.
Shampoo and Conditioner
When most people head over to the store to purchase shampoo and conditioner, they just grab whatever smells nice; this should never be the case. Make sure to buy a good shampoo and conditioner combo that is specially designed for curly hair. Opt for products that contain essential oils, such as jojoba oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and sunflower oil, as you can really benefit from their hydrating, nurturing, and antioxidant properties. You can also search for products that include aloe vera, shea butter, keratin (in moderate amounts), provitamins and panthenol, plant extracts, animal proteins, and hydrolyzed silk. Make sure not to wash your hair every day unless you have to. In this case, use a really mild shampoo formula with gentle cleansing and additional conditioning agents. If your hair is rather dirty and oily, you may need to use a strong clarifying shampoo once every one to two weeks. Never skip or skimp out on conditioner; it should always follow up your shampoo as it will help lock in the moisture into your hair.
Pre-Shampoo Regimen
If you have tighter or coarser curls, you will need to conduct a pre-shampoo treatment or carry out a care regimen. One way to do that is by using your conditioner before and after you shampoo your hair; there’s no reason why you should stick to using it once after you shampoo. You should consider doing this every time you shower as coarse and curly hair can lose moisture in no time. The reason why you should use conditioner after you shower is that it locks in the moisture into your hair strands before the shampoo gets the chance to strip all of their natural oils away.
Bantu Knots
When you have curly hair, you need to master several protective hairstyles to maintain the integrity, pattern, and texture of each curl. As you can deduce from the name, the Bantu knots are a traditional hairstyle that was created by the Bantu people. This hairstyle requires you to slip, twist, and wrap several sections of your hair until you achieve what looks like several spiraled knots at the top of your head. Although named after the Bantu people, this protective hairstyle can be seen in over 300 ethnicities and cultures throughout Africa. To create this hairstyle, you will need a variety of materials, including shampoo, conditioner, optional bobby pins, a wide-tooth comb, edge control, a soft bristle brush, a spray bottle with water, a denman brush, rat tail comb, optional extensions, styler with medium to stronghold, styling gel, and rubber bands. If you plan on using extensions, make sure to find one that serves your curly hair’s needs, make sure to refer to a Bantu Knots styling guide for more details. You should also account for the hair extension types that will help you get this hairstyle done easily. Before you start styling your hair, make sure to wash, condition, detangle, moisturize, and stretch your hair by blow-drying, braiding, or banding it.
Avoid Split Ends
Everyone knows that it’s almost impossible to avoid getting split ends completely. However, there are ways in which you can reduce or repair them without having to cut them off. If you have curly hair, the key to avoiding split ends is by being extra careful with your curl strands. Use a detangler if you want to brush your hair, and make sure not to yank or pull on it at all. When you tie your hair, avoid tying it tightly into a bun or ponytail. Try to stick to a wide-tooth comb and avoid exposing your hair to heat. Make sure to get your hair professionally trimmed every two or three months.
Having curly hair is one of the most rewarding ever. Sad to say, not many people realize this early on in life; by the time they do, their hair might have suffered great damage already. Fortunately, we collected some tips that can help you restore, revive, and care for your beautiful curly locks.